Title: Simmons in the Palm of Your Hand MiniGrant completed by Megan Fox and Candy Schwartz JumpStart May 2
1Simmons in the Palm of Your Hand Mini-Grant
completed by Megan Fox and Candy
SchwartzJumpStart May 22, 2002
2Mini-Grant Purpose
- Explore methods of delivering content in a PDA
format and make recommendations for what the best
method(s) would be for Simmons. - Determine the types of College-related content
which would be appropriate and useful to have
available in a PDA format
3Funding
1500 for equipment 1000 for training and books
(spent less than 200 on online books!) Release
time and use of equipment from departments
99
567
500
50
4Final Report
- Overview of PDAs
- Content Delivery
- Appropriate Content
- Testing/Mock-ups
- Recommendations
- Resources
http//web.simmons.edu/fox/PDA.html
5Overview of PDAs
What are PDAs?
PDA Personal Digital Assistant A small computer
that literally fits in the palm of your hand.
More limited than a desktop computer, but useful
for calendars, address books, and many other
applications. Also known as handheld computer,
palmtop, pocket pc.
6Content Delivery
- Issues different operating systems, devices,
displays (size/color) - Design Recommendations for Mobile Device Content
- Organization
- Coding (dos and donts)
- Creating the Content
- Working with Service Providers and PDA-specific
Products - Creating Content Locally (multiple versions
database-driven)
7Appropriate Content for PDAs in Academia
Personal Productivity address books, calendars,
email, calculators, text (to do lists,
memos) Informational Content news and events,
hours of service, directory information, how-to
and instruction guides (including PDA help,
location of syncing stations), library content
(e-books, dictionaries, reference
materials) Instructional Content syllabi and
assignments students take notes while in class
and record notes, laboratory data, observations,
etc. in the field faculty and students share
documents from a networked folder
8PDA Projects in Academia
9Testing and Mock-Ups
http//web.simmons.edu/schwartz/pda
What PDA-friendly content looks like on the
desktop
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11(No Transcript)
12Recommendations
- The Office of Information Technology and Academic
Technology should continue to monitor general
PDAs developments in academia and use at Simmons.
- The Web Office should consider how new
technologies and activities (such as the adoption
of Cold Fusion) could be leveraged to support a
PDA environment. - The TRC should monitor WebCTs efforts to develop
PDA compatibility.
13Recommendations
- The HelpDesk should monitor how often they get
requests for PDA assistance, and what support is
requested syncing, downloading, purchase
advice, etc. - To remain competitive with other academic
institutions, certain disciplines at Simmons
should be exposing their students to PDA and
hand-held technologies to prepare them for the
workplace (e.g. Health Studies, GSM). - The Library and the Graduate School of Library
Information Science (GSLIS) should be keeping an
eye on trends and developments and engage in
projects that explore PDA applications in
libraries and related settings.
14Disseminating Findings and Next Steps
- Technology Fair close to 50 visitors at the
display - JumpStart Presentations
- PD What? Intro. to Personal Digital Assistants,
Palm Pilots, and Other Hand Held Devices - PDAs and Health Studies
- I've Got the Whole World in My Palm The Use of
PDAs and Other Handheld Computers in Academia - Other Events
- Hosted teleconference No String Attached
Wireless and PDAs - Presented at Association of College and Research
Libraries conference - Attended local meetings and presentations
15Next Steps
- Proposed the Development of a PDA Training
Program - Basic Introduction
- for individuals who are considering a PDA
- Making the Most of Your PDA
- for individuals who have recently obtained one
- The PDA and the Curriculum
- for faculty, so they can start thinking about
integration tailored to specific departments
16The Past
17The Future
18Presentations and Final Report available
athttp//web.simmons.edu/fox/PDA.html
Simmons in the Palm of Your Hand
Megan Fox Web Electronic Resources
Librarian fox_at_simmons.edu Jump Start, May 22,
2002